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Ixodes persulcatus (n = 125) and Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 84) ticks from Western Siberia, Russia, were tested for infection with Borrelia, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia, Bartonella, and Babesia spp. by using nested [...]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancy of the central nervous system. Temozolomide is the standard of care for gliomas, frequently results in resistance to drug and tumor recurrence. Therefore, further research is required for the development of effective drugs in order to guarantee specific treatments to succeed. The aim of current study was to investigate the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF), human cathelicidin (LL-37), protegrin-1 (PG-1), and temozolomide on bioenergetic function of mitochondria, clonogenicity, and migration of human U251 glioma cells. Colony formation assay was used to test the ability of the glioma cells to form colonies in vitro. The U251 glioma cells migration was evaluated using wound-healing assay. To study the mitochondrial metabolism in glioma cells we measured oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) using a Seahorse XF cell Mito stress test kit and Seahorse XF cell Glycolysis stress kit, respectively. We revealed that LL-37, NGF, and TMZ show strong anti-tumorigenic activity on GMB. LL-37 (4 μM), TMZ (155 μM), and NGF (7.55 × 10−3 μM) inhibited 43.9%–60.3%, 73.5%–81.3%, 66.2% the clonogenicity of glioma U251 cells for 1–2 days, respectively. LL-37 (4 μM), and NGF (7.55 × 10−3 μM) inhibited the migration of U251 glioma cells on the third and fourth days. TMZ also inhibited the migration of human glioma U251 cells over 1–3 days. In contrast, PG-1 (16 μM) stimulated the migration of U251 glioma cells on the second, fourth, and sixth days. Anti-mitogenic and anti-migration activities of NGF, LL-37, and TMZ maybe are relation to their capacity to reduce the basal OCR, ATP-synthetase, and maximal respiration of mitochondria in human glioma U251 cells. Glycolysis, glycolytic capacity and glycolytic spare in glioma U251 cells haven't been changed under the effect of NGF, LL-37, PG-1, and TMZ in regard to control level. Thus, LL-37 and NGF inhibit migration and clonogenicity of U251 glioma cells, which may indicate that these compounds have anti-mitogenic and anti-migration effects on human glioma cells. The study of the mechanisms of these effects may contribute in the future to the use of NGF and LL-37 as therapeutic agents for gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circuit analogy for magnetosphere‐ionosphere current systems has two extremes: the voltage generator (when the ground magnetic response is proportional to the ionospheric conductance) and the current generator (when the ground magnetic response practically does not depend on the ionospheric conductance). Nonsteady field‐aligned currents interact with the ionosphere in a different way depending on the ratio between the driver time scale τ and the Alfven field line eigenperiod TA. Sudden Commencement (SC) impulses at high latitudes correspond to the situation when τ≪TA. This case of Alfven pulses propagating independently away from the equatorial plane is analytically examined with the magnetospheric plasma box model with thin asymmetric conjugate ionospheres. At high latitudes the amplitude ratio in conjugate ionospheres in general does not correspond directly to either the current or voltage regimes. Theoretical predictions are supported by examples of typical SC event observations at conjugate magnetometer sites in Greenland and Antarctica during summer and winter periods. Key Points: Interhemispheric properties of Alfvenic pulses with duration less than field line eigenperiod must differ from larger period disturbancesAt high latitudes the amplitude ratio in conjugate ionospheres in general does not correspond directly to either current or voltage regimesInterhemispheric asymmetry of SC amplitudes at Greenland and Antarctica magnetometers corresponds qualitatively to the Alfvenic pulse model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A circuit analogy for magnetosphere‐ionosphere current systems has two extremes for drivers of ionospheric currents: the "voltage generator" (ionospheric electric fields/voltages are constant, while current varies) and the "current generator" (current is constant, while the electric field varies). Here we indicate another aspect of the magnetosphere‐ionosphere interaction, which should be taken into account when considering the current/voltage dichotomy. We show that nonsteady field‐aligned currents interact with the ionosphere in a different way depending on a forced driving or resonant excitation. A quasi‐DC driving of field‐aligned current corresponds to a voltage generator, when the ground magnetic response is proportional to the ionospheric Hall conductance. The excitation of resonant field line oscillations corresponds to the current generator, when the ground magnetic response only weakly depends on the ionospheric conductance. According to the suggested conception, quasi‐DC nonresonant disturbances correspond to a voltage generator. Such ultralow frequency (ULF) phenomena as traveling convection vortices and Pc5 waves should be considered as the resonant response of magnetospheric field lines, and they correspond to a current generator. However, there are quite a few factors that may obscure the determination of the current/voltage dichotomy. Key Points: Quasi‐DC driving of FAC corresponds to voltage generator, when ground response is proportional to ionospheric conductanceResonant driving corresponds to current generator, when ground response weakly depends on local ionospheric conductanceDayside TCVs and Pc5 ULF waves should be considered as a result of current generator [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Search of tumors in video capsule endoscopy (VCE) record in some cases presents significant difficulties even for experienced specialist. We made an attempt to develop rules supporting clinical decision for processing of VCE images. An algorithm for assessment of neoplastic diseases of the jejunum and ileum on the basis of VCE to support tactical decision-making of doctors was conducted. The algorithm was implemented as a software module "The conclusion in a capsule" with integrated development environment Visual Studio and the programming language C#. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-cracking in the earthquake preparation zone is accompanied by the generation of acoustic emission (AE). Even low-intensity AE can essentially modify the underground fluid dynamics owing to the influence of high-frequency acoustic field on filtration process. Laboratory experiments show that acoustic impact on pour sample destroys a film with bounded water and results in a steep increase of its permeability up to 2 orders of magnitude. Impulsive acoustic fields also decrease the effective viscosity of the fluid. The occurrence in the crust under pressure of a region with distinct hydrodynamic and electrokinetic parameters will result in an appearance of anomalous telluric and magnetic fields on the surface above. This effect is estimated analytically using a simple model with an elliptic-shaped inhomogeneity. The suggested hypothesis about possible coupling between AE and geoelectrical anomalies needs observational verification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]